ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: sentences 3

Grammar Geek — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:31:52 GMT

It would help if I spelled it right, of course.

conÂ·cierge - a usually multilingual hotel staff member who handles luggage and mail, makes reservations, and arranges tours; broadly : a person employed (as by a business) to make arrangements or run errands (M-W)

Re: sentences 3

Avangi — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:23:55 GMT

Thanks, GG. My American Heritage says, "concierge n. 1. A person who attends the entrance of a building; a janitor. 2. (obs.) etc." I knew that couldn't be right!

Best wishes, - A.

Re: sentences 3

Grammar Geek — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:56:02 GMT

The consierge is the person at the hotel who helps you make arrangements for other things in the city. He or she will have information on recreational activities, restaurants, shows, etc, and will usually be able to purchase tickets, make reservations for you, and so on.

Re: sentences 3

New2grammar — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:27:01 GMT

First, thank you for the detailed reply. It has a lot of great information that I find useful.

Actually, I have two more questions but I think they are beyond the scope of this thread. I'll create new threads for them. Thanks Avangi for your time and patience.

Re: sentences 3

Avangi — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:01:02 GMT

1. Google doesn't bear me out on capitalizing "the." I see it both ways, but mostly lower case.

2. In the US, we don't commonly use "transit" the way you did in your post. Perhaps you could find it like that in a technical article. (I can't see your sentence from here.) I think you used it in a sense like, "The transit was difficult." You're talking about an everyday (popular) experience. I think it may be used that way in Europe. I believe you would mean, "The process of getting from A to B was difficult. We might say, "The subway was difficult this morning," speaking of the total experience of the subway. We might say, "The bus ride was difficult this morning." (bus ride / train ride = short trip; bus trip / train trip = longer trip) I think some countries would say "tram." "Getting to work was difficult this morning." "Traffic was terrible this morning."

"Transit" is rarely used by itself. "He's in transit right now," is fairly common. Many cities refer to their public transportation system as "public transit" or "the rapid transit."

3. You're talking about a pretty high class deal here. Most hotels run shuttles to and from the airports. You just look for signs or ask someone. Not many people would be picked up personally by the hotel. But in such a case, "the limo driver from the hotel" would be the one assigned to pick you up. "The arrival hall" at the airport would be called "the terminal."

Rgdz, - A.

Re: sentences 3

New2grammar — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:08:08 GMT

Thanks Avangi for the reply.

I have some follow up questions:

1. Do you capitalize The Hilton?

2. No one will know what I'm talking about? I thought transit was always associated with the
activity where one gets off the plane and board another one. What would you say to make
it more clear?

3. Does the suggest he's the only limo driver at the hotel? Or does it suggest he's the
assigned limo driver for his pickup? I don't quite get you on the joke that Ahmed is a terrible
driver. Additional context if it's not already clear: the scene takes place in the arrival hall.

Thanks in advance!

Re: sentences 3

Avangi — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:17:58 GMT

1. Yes. I think "the" should be capitalized in "The Continental" (sp). I think, a comma after "weather."

2. Technically, no, but no one will know what you're talking about. We'd probably say, "a long bus trip" or "a long trip by rail." If you wish to complain about the duration rather than the distance, "The trip was interminable," or "The trip seemed to take forever."

3. He'd be called "the driver" or "the limo driver." "I'm the limo driver from The Continental." (So you met Ahmed?) I think "concierge" is European, or used by places that wish to seem European. If he felt like introducing himself, he'd probably say, "I'm Ahmed." (He's a terrible driver.)

Edit. I'm thinking "concierge" takes the definite article, like "the desk clerk," even though in a large hotel there may be more than one.

sentences 3

New2grammar — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:38:47 GMT

1. I had to endure the long transit (time) in Phoenix in the hot weather and the air conditioning wasn't working.

2. (At the airport)

X: Are you Mr. Roberts?

Mr. Roberts: Yes.

X: My name is Ahmed. I'm a concierge at the Continential and I'm here to take you to your hotel.

1. Are they correct?

2. In #1, is time needed?

3. Do you call a person sent by a hotel to pick a guest up a concierge?

Thanks in advance!